Wichita State (0-0) at Western Kentucky (0-0) Game Thread: Nov 4 (Mon)

[forevershockerfan]

We are often reminded that good things happen with solid Senior leadership. Let me say this about that. Stay tuned!

[ShockBand]

MY THOUGHT ON THE SENIOR LADEN MAYBE THAT EVERY YEAR FROM HERE ON OUT HAS LARGE SENIOR NIGHTS....GOOD WAY TO FINISH A CAREER, PERHAPS?

All caps? Trying to emulate LESTER COLLIE?

[proshox]

Good win. The fact it wasn’t a perfect game gives me room for optimism.

[AZ Shocker]

Wonder if there's a way to watch a replay. I didn't get a chance to see the game thinking it was on espn+ like every other aac team last night. Come to find out our game was on CBS network. Dern-it. Was really hoping to watch it.

[shock]

Croatian Sensation

No Diddy.

[ShockRef]

Post game thoughts:


Bless the NCAA for making the Croatian Sensation eligible for last night's game. We're absolutely TOAST without him in the first half with 2 early Q fouls.

I see there's different takes on Bosnjak's play. He's not the most mobile side to side big in the country. But he's solid north south. He understands spacing, knows how to set a screen (even if others don't know how to properly use it), he "sees" the floor VERY well. Paint touches to good solid looks at 3s are good and what HCPM wants and he's going to do that more often than not. You may not be impressed with his play, but you absolutely should be. He's good, he makes others better and he'll get better and better as the season goes. And we HAVE to have his size.

Not a great game for Washington but I'm not concerned. He'll find his feet and way soon enough.

I cannot believe how unprepared our scout was early. We made multiple errors against their press, we did not get back against a team we KNEW would fly down the court and we were completely unprepared to guard 5. And that part got WORSE coming out of halftime. The ONLY thing we needed to address for WKU was 5. And he gets 4 dunks coming out of halftime. SMH. That HAS to get better. Also, QB was really, really strong in the 2nd half but the young man cannot get those early fouls. Just can't do it. CAN'T. Run away. Do anything but foul. And bringing both hands down to block on a shorter player? He knows better. But again, his 2nd half was excellent.

His great 2nd half aside, you have to get him out of the game if we're going to be fouled. Not sure what you think is going to happen. Hack a Q and misses is what's going to happen.

Hill was great. He won't average 30, but he was great last night. And tough as nails and GASSED. We can't ask that every game.

Xavier is who he is. In conference, he'll be scouted and not allowed to go left like last night. But he's really good going left and getting to the basket. Really good. He plays hard and he's smart and good defensively. He doesn't need heat check shots and the 3s will not fall like that. It's a vicious circle though...you have to make teams pay for giving you open 3s. But his shot is so slow that basically no shot is open against quality competition. He's not nearly as bad as many proclaim him to be here. In fact, he's good. But also, nights like last night aren't repeatable.

You can't dismiss that win. Good solid team. They aren't going to lose much at home. That freshman off the bench is going to be a stud. 5 is a problem for all but elite programs. They're good, and we won at their place. That just can't be dismissed. It doesn't mean we're a top 25 team either, but we've got a fighting chance this season.

Somebody help me...was Zion in civis? Did I miss an injury there?

14 turnovers isn't a horrible number, especially in a game with 175 points scored. 12 would be excellent. But man it felt like more like 14 going to 27 didn't it? Like we got away with a bunch of near turnovers. WAY too much jumping and passing...reminded me of Gal Mekel in a very, very bad way.

I know the game was important to getting off on the right foot, but 9 played, 8 are seniors. Unless we're a top 20 team, that doesn't really excite me. I do like our depth and I realize we can't do anything now about how old we are. Getting Meeks healthy (which I don't expect until deep into the conference season) helps the depth and adds to my problem.

I cannot stand the way we close out on jump shooters. I wish FHCGM would grab HCPM by the throat and tell him to watch and learn how it's done right.

One area I liked but didn't like but think we can be a lot better....I thought we were pretty good getting to the cup...but FREAKING AWFUL at finishing. We're plenty big, strong, talented etc enough to finish through contact. Be tougher. Run over/through contact at the basket. Stop trying the under the basket reverse spin. Try to tomahawk the SOB. Get a charge. Finish HARD. Make the defender think twice next time even if they did take a charge. We missed SO many shots at the rim. Have to do better there and I believe we can!

17 assists to 14 turnovers, not great but decent.
8 blocks, excellent.
11 steals, excellent.
72% from the line. Solid. 5-6 missed in crunch time, has to be better but without that stretch, a scintillating 83% (25-30) and that's a nice big sample size.

If we're 11-27 (41%) from 3 all season long, we'll be pretty tough to beat. Can we be? I doubt it.


All in all, very nice debut. I hope we don't rely on the seniors for every minute. But we do have some pieces to compete with pretty much everyone on our schedule, IF we're prepared every game.

Quality post from the Doc, as expected.

Real obvious that HCPM trusts RD III. When CW was getting smoked a couple times on defense, HCPM turned to RD III to provide acceptable defense.
Now if he can make those FT's in crunch time. Just needs more practice and some confidence at the line.

Nothing against CW, who is obviously athletic as all get out. But looked like he ws used to St.Peters level of opposition, not WKU - who has some dudes.
Speaking of WKU dudes, the Thedford kid out of Memphis is the real deal. Kind of player who could dominate the C-USA.

Bells release is slow as molasses. Now if the defense lays off and focuses on the Hiils and AJ's on the floor, he will get his chances.
Predict we will look back at this road win as big as Texas, when comparing to other wins.

That is all.

[shock]

MY THOUGHT ON THE SENIOR LADEN MAYBE THAT EVERY YEAR FROM HERE ON OUT HAS LARGE SENIOR NIGHTS....GOOD WAY TO FINISH A CAREER, PERHAPS?

YEAH THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

WHY ARE WE YELLING?

[SubGod22]

[Kung Wu]

YEAH THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

WHY ARE WE YELLING?

You could feel molly jabali's passion!

[shockrah]

Taylor's game stories:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/wichita-state-basketball-lands-win-over-wku-in-first-road-season-opener-since-1992/ar-AA1tvVD1

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/inside-justin-hill-s-electric-debut-the-best-in-wichita-state-basketball-history/ar-AA1txQ1Q

[atlwsu]

Marshall had a lot of fans as he engaged with the fan base. Brown did absolutely nothing with the fans and Mills is still a wait-and-see.

In this great economy, you aren’t gonna see too many fans trekking 500 miles to watch a team coming off a 12-18 year. The program has to start performing again.

My wife and I would have been there (4 hour drive) if she were not having knee replacement surgery tomorrow morning. ?

[forevershockerfan]

All Caps from way back when on SN reminds me of the Preacher Pork Chop.

[AZ Shocker]

Does CBS replay this game anywhere? I just can't seem to find it.

[1972Shocker]

[AZ Shocker]

Thanks '72!!! Damn...our new point is gooooood!!!